Interpretation ID: aiam2689
Satterlee
Mestayer & Freeman
1606 First National Bank of Commerce Building
New Orleans
LA 70112;
Dear Ms. Hayes: This is in response to your letter of August 31, 1977, to our For Worth, Texas office and October 7, 1977, telephone conversation with Robert Churella of my staff concerning the existence of any Federal motor vehicle standard that would require doors on garbage trucks.; There are no Federal motor vehicle safety standards that requir vehicles to be equipped with doors. In fact, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 206 (49 CFR 571.206), which regulates door locks and door retention components, specifically exempts from its application those motor vehicles manufactured for operation without doors.; The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has, however promulgated a standard requiring trucks manufactured after July 1, 1971, to be equipped with seat belts. This requirement would provide protection for an individual riding in a vehicle without a side door.; Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel